The spears flew towards the youth on the hill, whistling as they cut through the air. Grinning, Queen Medb’s general drew his sword, eager to take back to his Queen the head of this warrior whom they called the Hound of Ulster. He had no doubt his spears would find their mark.

On the 11-14th June 2018, the inaugural Pacific Philosophy Conference (I.P.P.C.) was held in Suva, Fiji. The Pacific Theological College, the University of the South Pacific, Pacific Islands Association of N.G.Os, and Fiji National University were the four hosting partners who sponsored the event.

Samoa’s Ava Exports is looking promising, with exports expected to increase in the next couple of years. Ava exports was Samoa’s second largest export commidity from 1998 to 2001 until some European countries led by Germany imposed restrictions on the Pacific Kava Trade. Samoa’s exports of Ava in 1998 was just under $20m.

Since closing shop this year, Yazaki Samoa Ltd has left many former employees searching for jobs; a problem that Ah Liki Investments Ltd has come to aid by opening its doors and granting employment to those affected by this closure.

The smiles on their faces said it all. Although many of them were in pain, W.B.O heavyweight champion, Lupesoliai Laauli Joseph Parker, brought temporary relief when he paid an unexpected visit on Friday.

The Samoa Victim Support Group has been awarded the Samoa Public Service Innovation & Excellence Team Award for ‘Most Effective Collaborative Partnership’, during the celebration of the Public Service Day.

The Samoa Cocoa Industry Development Initiative (S.C.I.D.I.) funded by the New Zealand government, had a very busy week last week. The Samoa Cocoa Industry Association (S.C.I.A.) Establishment Committee met for the first time to discuss the incorporation timetable and the future scope for S.C.I.A.

The 8 year old accepted her mother’s award from the Public Service Commission as Mrs. Vaatolu is in Savai’i on official business. For Vaatolu’s outstanding services, she is the recipient of the Community Participation Initiative Award.

While the celebration of Samoa’s culture and traditions as per the Teuila Festival for 2017 has come to an end, the empowered nofotane women used the festival to enjoy the socio-economic returns from being empowered.

“I think what my ministerial colleagues did not know is that the first guy who was directed to come with a gun at me, was a young man, married to a girl of my family, and I think that was a factor that was not known. And was why the gun was removed from him and given to the son of the minister to execute…” –P.M. Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi

The tussle between the Police and the Land Transport Authority (L.T.A.) over the enforcement of traffic infringements and the collection of fines is an interesting one.
Purely from an outside perspective, it appears to be a show of who has the biggest muscles and how far one can flex them.

Attempts by two unidentified men, who tried to attack Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi in Brisbane, Australia on Wednesday night has shocked the nation and triggered condemnation from various fronts. Our reporter Yolanda Lavata’i speaks to the public to get their views on the issue.

I want to share a reflection on suicide by quoting from a speech I made in 2002 because it is relevant and topical. Rituals also express meaning, nuance and metaphor. During (former) Prime Minister’s Helen Clark’s wreathe presentation at Tamasese’s grave, 4 June 2002, Lufi Falefa and Salani could have chanted the funeral chants, the birth chants, the war chants, the victory chants.

P.M. on Church leaders
It seems Prime Minister Tuilaepa can’t leave members of clergy alone.
During a radio programme last week, he had plenty to say about Church Ministers. For instance, he reminded them that Church Ministers were only taught on spiritual matters, not on Economics.